The position is located in the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service (PLMS) at the Portland VA Medical Center. The incumbent performs a variety of functions, including accession specimens into computer system; collects, evaluates and processes patient specimens; answers questions relative to specimens; instructs and assists patients; and sends out specimens for testing. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives MAY be authorized for highly qualified candidates

Duties

This is an open-continuous announcement. It establishes a standing register of eligible applicants which closes on September 30, 2023. Positions will be filled as they become available. There will be multiple cut-off dates used to consider applications for referral to the selecting official. The first cut-off date to consider applications for referral to the selecting official will be 2 weeks from the opening date of this announcement. The remaining cut-off dates will be at 2-week intervals until the closing date of this announcement. Major Duties include but are not limited to: Independently performing blood collection using a variety of phlebotomy techniques, including vacutainer systems, syringe, butterfly, and/or capillary finger sticks. Independently selecting the best venipuncture site, most suitable phlebotomy equipment, appropriate cleansing agent(s), and proper collection vials. Assessing the condition of patient before, during, and after procedure. Making on-the-spot decisions to make corrections or identify other means to obtain needed specimens when faced with patients with difficult anatomy for collection. Providing education to patients regarding proper collection techniques of urine, stool, or other fluids. Preparing samples for testing to include labeling, centrifugation, decanting and aliquoting, etc. Identifying unusual test results or conditions that can lead to erroneous results. Assessing sample integrity and suitability. Manifesting and shipping to reference labs Providing customer service for those utilizing the laboratory services; answering telephones and referring unanswered questions to the appropriate source for correct information/assistance. Work Schedule: Sunday-Saturday, variable 8 hour tours with rotating weekend and holidays Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Medical Technician (Phlebotomist)/PD21133A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet time-in-grade requirements and specialized experience within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 09/29/2023. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Candidates may be advanced without time restriction to positions up to GS-5 if the position to be filled is no more than two grades above the lowest grade the employee held within the preceding 52 weeks under his or her latest non-temporary competitive appointment. For a GS-05 position, you must have served as a GS-3 or higher. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or educationas described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Drawing blood from patients for requested laboratory tests; Uses and performs preventive maintenance on laboratory equipment; Verifies sample collection, patient identification, and sample transport requirements. Performing various technical laboratory procedures such as computer test access, computer search for past and future patient lab orders. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month & year starting and ending dates AND hours worked per week. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Successfully completed of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects appropriate to the position (Transcripts must be uploaded). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements (Transcripts must be uploaded) Preferred Experience: Phlebotomy skills, specimen processing, drug screen collection, referral laboratory testing and shipping You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to DetailCustomer Service (Clerical/Technical)Emergency CareInfection ControlSpecimen CollectionTechnical CompetenceTechnology Application Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work requires extensive periods of standing and walking, regular and recurring bending, moderate lifting, stooping and stretching. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VA Portland Health Care System 3710 Southwest US Veterans Hospital Road Portland, OR 97239 US
• Name: Simone Ball
• Phone: 541-440-1000 X44275
• Email: [email protected]